Strong box



July 26, 1932- J. J. BROSNAN STRONG BOX Filed June 11, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Mag; JZ/I'n J 737-awzazz July 26, j J B S N STRONG BOX Filed June 11, 951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 26, 1932 (UNITED STATES JOHN J. BROSNAN, or WORCESTER, AssAorrusn'r'rs Q STRONG Box Application filed' June 11,

This invention relates to a strong box adapted to be exposed in public places for the reception of coins and the like. 7

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a very strong construction which cannot be opened by amateur methods at least; to provide a false bottom constituting in itself a lock for the removable outer casing to make drilling into the bottom' more 10 diflicult and to add in other respects to the difiiculty of getting into the inside of the box and also constituting means whereby, if a would-be thief does break throughthe false bottom, he will think that he has reached the inside of the strong box and very likely will not attempt to go further; to provide means for locking the false bottom in its projecting position where it locks the outside cover; to provide means for positively preventingithe false bottom from being retracted, said means being controlled by a lock; to provide means whereby if this look should be broken in any way the locking means for the false'bottom will still act; and in short to provide a safe, durable and relatively inexpensive construction. i

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of'a. strong box constructed in accordance with this inis adapted to be secured to a vertical wall, or a the like;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figs. 1 and 4, and I Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66' of Fig. 4. v

- This strong box is intended for general purposes, but is particularly adapted: for

church. boxes for the reception of offerings for various purposes. Y i

The box preferably is made up of a strong base 10. It is preferred to makethis base of ing sufficiently to receive 'a false bottom 20 16with all theparts just 'of strong sheet steel.

1931. Serial no. 543,e4e.;-

malleable iron which can be made so strong that itis practically impossible to break it or seriously injure it by any ordinaryj means.

The base embodies a flat plate which -is provided 'With bosses 11, all perforatedto re ceive bolts by whichit can be secured in place a r against a wall or the like; It is also'provided with an integral wall 12 extending across it reaching to the plane of a surrounding flange. '00 j 13 which is integral With it'and which is the part which rests against the wall. 1 l 1" i On the inside of the base are oneor more perforated bosses 14, through which bolts 15 can'be inserted toseoure to the frontjofthis base an inside-casing- 16. Thiscasing is 10- with thebase and extending up from'it'all casing consists of aback wall and'tw'o side in one plane at the bottom on the sides and -'a rear flange of'a similar character and in the 6 5 cated within a three Walled'fiange 17 integral same plane-projecting inwardly. .The-cas-L ing' also has a bottom 19 weldedior otherwise firmly secured to it, this bottom having a flange extending around. it below; it by which it is riveted preferably to' the casing. It is elevatedabove the actual bottom of the casbelow it. The casing 16also has a chute 21 over which thecoins slide into it. The casing described, is made The false bottom 20 is made'of asheet'steel stamping of amaterially heavier grade and can be-made of a metal which willbe very difficult to penetrateeither by saw or drill. It has four flanges-integral with each other at thecorners and at; the bottom,;turning sow down fromit and filling the space between the 1 I bottom of the flanges on the permanent bot-- tom and the flanges 18. The top'of this false bottomis depressed so thata few coins may ceiving any would berobber, that penetrated it, into thinking that he'has actually gotten .95 v be placed in it. This-is for thepurpose of 'dechromium steel or the like, and is preferablyof a rectangular form having smooth sides and top, the latter .having a .coin receiving slot 24 Which, of course, When the parts are in position, Will be located overthe chute 21.

It is also provide d With two flanges 25 extending inwardly in the same plane from the opposite sides to project through spaces 26 between the casing 16 and theto'p of the base 10 Which'is raised. This holds the cover on the base from one end to the other inthis Way.

At the bottom on the inner side of the front face of the outer casing is located a piece 27 of metalof the same kind having flanges at 'the'tep and bottom,the upper flange 28 being adapted to come against the top edge of the 1 false bottom, and the lower flange 29 coming under the lower edge of'the false bottom. Thuswvhen the falsebottom is projected against the front it comes'against'this flange 29 and locks the cover to the casing. The bottom of the cover isv all open except for this flange.v 1 7 I The method of operating the false bottom is to provide one or more lugs 30 integral Withlthe base 10 and perforated throughout their length to receive a corresponding n'umonly one form of the inventionl am aware of the factthat changes can be made therein byj'any person skilled-in theart Withouther of plungers 31. Springs 15 are provided for-normally forcing said plungers forwardlv.- The-plunger's project into the space beblind the false bottom so as to hold that out Wardly i'n lockingposition by spring pres sure; These plungers-project beyond the springbackwardlyand a plate 32 is provided having rods 38 fixed thereto 'Which are nor mally pressed by a spring 3a through open- "ings in the lugs '80 and into the passages therein to limit the backward motion of these plungers 31. Therefore When the spring 3 1 -is forced to hold the plate in theposition plunger 35 guided in a part of the Wall 12 and in'another integral lug 36 on the base to move in a straight line, and the spring 34:

presses on the Wall 12 to keep the device 1 locked Whenever it is free to move.-

Guided in a projection on the Wall 12 is a bolt, 37 constituting a featureiof an ordinary ;p.in-and-tumbler or disc lock 88. A key 39 can be-inserted in this look, preferably from f either side of the base 10, to turn this bolt 37.

The belt. has a 09.11140 adapted to engage,

during 7 its rotation, a-projec-tion 4:1; on the .plunger 35 to draw back the plunger, and with. it the plate 32 Whichis located on the e1 1d"'of'this plunger. This Withdraws the -plungers 33 from'the passages 42. Now,

these passages, being unobstructed, the, false action of said false'bottomf 1 bottom can be forced back by placing the fingers in from the bottom and pressingon the side toward the back, and this Will release be opened: The springs Which hold the false bottom in its extended locking positioniare the party presses it in With considerable force, and there is nothing about ititoindicate that it can be pressed in. Furthermore, the base is made'of such material that it is practically impossibleto injure it andit cannot be broken by-blovvs of a sledge hammer.

will indicate to a stranger hoW the box can 7 strong enough so that it Will not move unless Also the cover, as stated, isof very resistant 'metal and so is the false bottom. In other Words, all the parts that are exposed. when i exposure in public places Where coins are de posited'by the public. I I

Although I have illustratedv and described departing from the scopeof the invention as expres'sedinthe claims. Therefore'Idonot Y A Wish to be limited tothe exact form shown, but What I do claim is 1 1.,111 a strong box, the combinationbase having an integral flange around it at means for securing said base to said Wall, of an lnner casing secured to said base on the front, an outer casing slidable over said in-- .adapted to enclose the inner casing, said inner casing having a permanent bottom spaced from the lower end thereoffan-d extending permanent bottom, an outer casing having an innerprojectionWh'ich the false'bottom' is adapted to engage to lockt'h'e outerj'casiifig to the inner casing and means contained in and concealed by the base for controlling the the back to fit against alwall orthe like and throughout the entire'area ;of said casing near the bottom, a false bottom belovv'the 3. In a strong box, the combination of a base having a flange projecting from the face thereof around three sides on the front and means for securing said base to a wall or the like, of an inner casing located within the flange, means for securing the inner casing to the base, an outer casing slidable over the inner casing, a false bottom slidably 10- cat-ed in the bottom of the inner casing-and having means whereby, when the false bottom is projected outwardly, it will lock the outer casing in position, positive means for preventing the false bottom from being retracted from its locking position, and key-operated means for withdrawing said positive means.

4. In a strong box, the combination of a strong, durable base of malleable iron havingv a flange projecting from the face thereof around three sides on the front and means for securing said base to a wall or the like, of an inner casing of sheet metal located within the flange so as to prevent access to the back of the inner casing, means for securing the inner casing to the base and spacing the edges of the back of it therefrom, an outer casing of strong, tough metal, slidable over the inner casing and having longitudinal flanges at its opposite sides adaptedto project into said spaces, a false bottom of hard tough metal slidably located in the bottom of the inner casing and having means whereby, when the false bottom is projected outwardly, it will lock the outer casing in position, yielding means for forcing the false bottom into locking position, positive means concealed by said base for preventing the false bottom from being retracted from its locking position, and key-operated means for withdrawing said positive means.

5. In a strong box, the combination of a base, an inner casing and an outer casing, the outer casing having an inward projection at theend, a false bottom transversely slidable in the bottom of the inner casing into engagement with said projection for the purpose .of locking the outer casing thereto, and releasable means to hold the false bottom posiis withdrawn, thefalse bottom, which is ac cessible from beloW, can be forced in to unlock the outer casing.

7 In a strong box, the-combination of two parts movably connected together, constituting a strong box proper, a member ,atthe bottom of one of said parts looselymounted and adapted when projected to lock the two.

parts together, a spring-pressed-,plunger for forcing the said member into locking'position, means for engaging the end of said plunger to positivelyprevent the retraction of said movable part, yielding means for forcing the last named means into its positive locking position and key-operated means for pulling it out of its locking position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my-signature.

JOHN J. BROSNAN.

tively in looking position, whereby'the false bottom, which is accessible from below, can be forced in to unlock the outer casing.

6. In a strong box, the combination of a base, an inner casing and an outer casing, the outer casing having an inward projection at the end. a false bottom transversely slidable in the bottom of the inner easing into en-. gagement with said projection for the purpose of locking the outer casing thereto, a spring-pressed plunger for forcing the false bottom into locking position, said plunger being supported by the base which is provided with an opening for receiving it, a second plunger adapted to move across said opening to engage the end of the plunger and hold the false bottom positively in looking position, whereby when the second plunger 

